What It’s Really Like Being a Real Estate Agent: My Interview With Justine Azzi and Owen Kennedy
Written by Fernanda, our Grade 11 Co-op Student:
Before doing these interviews, I already had a decent understanding of what it is to be an agent. I understood that agents help people buy and sell homes, work flexible hours, and need strong communication skills. But after speaking with Justine Azzi and Owen Kennedy from New Purveyors, I learned there's a lot more behind the job than I expected.
Justine started in real estate while still in university, working as an admin. She liked it so much that she changed her career path and became an agent. She said she enjoys helping people and settling her own schedule. But what surprised me was how often she has to work weekends and adjust her time around her clients at once, especially when things get busy. Still, she loves meeting new people every day. One story that stood out to me was when she helped a couple from Detroit, and they ended up becoming good friends.
Owen got into real estate because he wanted more flexibility and liked the idea of meeting different people. He told me the job is a lot more than just being friendly. There are tons of small tasks that can pile up quickly. For him, staying organized and consistent is the hardest part, but being on a team helps. He also said having a supportive partner makes the busy times easier. One story he shared was about a creepy old house near Halloween. His client screamed after finding a room full of antique dolls, and it was the only room with working lights.
One thing these interviews helped me realize is how much confidence plays a role in being an agent. Both Justine and Owen mentioned that you need to be able to talk to all kinds of people and not be shy about it. At first I thought selling houses was mostly about knowing the buildings and prices, but it’s also about showing your clients that you believe in yourself and what you’re offering! If you don’t come across as confident, people might not trust you as much, and trust is important in this type of job.
I also realized that real estate isn’t a one-size-fits-all type of career. Each agent has their own way of doing things and different reasons for being in this career. Justine liked being able to make her own schedule and Owen liked the variety of the job. It made me see that the career can be different depending on the person. Real estate is more about who you are than I originally thought!
Overall, after talking to both of them, I really gained a new level of respect for real estate agents. I didn’t realize how much pressure and planning goes into it. It’s not just selling houses, it’s about building relationships and staying on top of everything. After these interviews, I found real estate more meaningful than I expected.
